All-seeing eye

From
Stephen Welch

There was an interesting correlation between two articles in your 7 September issue. Biologist Russell Gray wants to use his tools for analysing the spread and evolution of languages to uncover what gods our ancestors believed in (p 32). One theory mentioned says complex social structures couldn’t have developed without a belief in a moralising god or gods to keep cheats in check.

In the very next article, Katia Moskvitch describes our surveillance society and computers that can automatically issue fines for misdemeanours such as speeding or being drunk in public (p 36). She then says awareness of …